Upskilling or Updating Your Qualification
Thinking about upskilling or updating your qualification?
(approx. 5-minute read)
CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Cert III) has been replaced with an updated version, CHC33021, which includes significant changes and reflects current aged care industry standards.
If you’re wondering about updating your Cert III in Individual Support, you’ve come to the right place. This article discusses everything you need to know to make an informed decision about your skills and training.
The aged care industry is constantly evolving to meet the current and future needs of aged care consumers. As a result, Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) has undergone significant changes, and the former qualification code, CHC33015, has been superseded by CHC33021. For those holding the superseded Cert III (CHC33015), their qualification remains nationally recognised. However, it does not reflect the current national standards set out in the superseding CHC33021 Cert III.
The evolving aged care industry is largely influenced by Australia’s ageing population. Australians are living longer than ever and the number of older people aged 85 and over is projected to increase from 515,7000 (in 2018-19) to more than 1.5 million by 2058. This ageing population speaks to the growing demand for high-quality, skilled aged care workers.
Changes are coming to the aged care industry, many of these driven by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s report. The Royal Commission’s report calls for fundamental reform of the Australian aged care system and made 148 recommendations towards this reform. The recommendations set out in the report aim to bridge the gap between the care and support needed by older Australians and the actual care and support they were receiving, which was found to be inadequate in many cases across varying areas.
Australian aged care consumers deserve high-quality and safe aged care services. Some of the 148 recommendations are set to see that aged care workers’ qualifications are up-to-date and meet the industry’s needs.
Several recommendations speak to the quality of care aged care consumers need, including:
- Recommendation 1: A new Act:
- This new Act should provide a system of aged care based on a universal right to high quality, safe and timely support and care
- Recommendation 13: Embedding high quality aged care:
- The following characteristics of high quality aged care should be given effect in the amended 1997 Act:
- Diligent and skilful care
- Safe and insightful care
- Caring and compassionate relationships
- Empowering care
- Timely care
- The following characteristics of high quality aged care should be given effect in the amended 1997 Act:
- Recommendation 14: A general duty to produce high quality and safe care
- The new Act should include a general, positive and non-delegable statutory duty on any approved provider to ensure that the personal care they provide is of high quality and safe
The drive to update your Cert III is higher than ever, especially with the reforms outlined in The Royal Commission’s report: Care, Dignity and Respect.
What does all this mean for you and your skills?
Those who hold the superseded CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) – and other past superseded Certificates – can still work in aged care. CHC33015, however, has been replaced by the new CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support, which is the most current and relevant qualification for people wanting to have a fulfilling career in aged care.
Staying current and updating skills and knowledge to meet the evolving demands of the aged care industry is more important than ever, especially for those who have qualifications that have been superseded more than once. Obtaining CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support ensures you stay current with industry standards and enables you to provide the highest quality care and support you can, which in turn helps you to have a meaningful career in care.
Workers who enter the aged care industry generally do so because they possess qualities such as kindness and compassion and want to help older Australians in their ageing journey. Many workers find this career rewarding and genuinely care about the people they provide care and support to. Updating your skills to align with a higher standard of care can increase job satisfaction and impact both personal and professional development, as well as have positive impacts on aged care consumer experiences.
Depending on your existing qualifications, earning your Certificate III could lead to a pay increase. While it might not be your primary motivation… it’s certainly an encouraging perk!
What is the difference between CHC33015 and CHC33021?
Qualifications are regularly reviewed and updated, and when a qualification or unit is superseded, it means it no longer reflects the current standard of skills and knowledge relevant to the respective field of work. This is the case for CHC33015 and its superseding qualification (updated version) CHC33021.
CHC33021 contains significant updates that reflect the changed industry expectations and standards. Updates include:
- Changes to core units
- Removal of ‘home and community’ specialisation
- Changes to the ‘ageing’ and ‘disability’ specialisations
- Changes to the elective units available (units that are not core or specialisation units)
This means that the skills and knowledge you acquired during your CHC33015 Cert III are no longer representative of the most recent qualification relevant to your field of work. While some units may be equivalent to the updated Cert III, others are equivalent but not equal, or non-equivalent. The great news for workers holding superseded certificates is that some skills and knowledge can be transferred and count towards your competency for CHC33021 Cert III. However, other units contain information not covered in the previous qualifications and therefore need to be completed in full to obtain the updated Cert III.
The bottom line?
While you may be capable in your role based on the skills and knowledge gained through the CHC33015 Cert III (or other superseded Certificates), you may not be utilising the latest information about providing high-quality and safe aged care services and support.
Qualifications are developed with peak industry bodies to ensure workers have the skills and knowledge required to work competently in the respective field. When a qualification is updated, it is in response to the evolving industry and reflects new and emerging skills or knowledge deemed necessary for workers to have.
Age care workers who are committed to delivering compassionate care and support, and wanting to reach their full potential, must engage in ongoing learning and professional development. Ongoing learning allows you to keep your qualifications relevant and align your skills and knowledge with the needs of employers, ensuring you can deliver high-quality care for clients in accordance with current best practices.
Older Australians deserve the highest standard of care, and workers need high-quality education and training in a broad range of skills and knowledge to best equip them to work in the aged care industry. Our CHC33021 Cert III reflects the updated units and content and aligns with current industry standards and practices.
If you’re looking to upskill and progress your career, or are simply wanting to commit to ongoing training and skills development, obtaining the CHC33021 Cert III is the only nationally-recognised way to show you’re compliant with all current industry practices.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. If you hold a superseded certificate or other accredited units, you may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This means any skills and knowledge that is transferable will count towards the CHC33021 Cert.
Yes. Some skills and knowledge are transferable. However, CHC33015 is not equivalent to CHC33021 and there are elements and units that you will need to complete.
The full fee of CHC33021 Cert III in Individual Support (Ageing) is $3,000.
If you have existing training, skills, and/or current aged care industry experience, it is possible that pursuing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be cheaper and more time efficient for you than doing the whole qualification. The exact amount of savings will depend on the amount of skills and knowledge you can provide evidence for.
